Pilaster



W. T. HORMES -Aug. 2, 1932.

V PILASTER Filed Aug. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l w. T. HORMEs PILASTER Aug. 2, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1. 1928 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES.

WILLIAM' I. HORMES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND PILASTER 7 Application filed August 1, 1928. Serial No. 296,669.

This invention is a removable pilaster particularly adapted for store equipment, but not limited to such use.

Manufactures of store equipment, as well as merchants have found by experience that store furniture of standardized widths and depths are best suited for merchandising conditions. Largely due to this fact, store fixtures such as shelving, wall cases and other store and display elements are now commonly constructed of sectional units having standardized dimensions. In order to maintain pleasing architectural lines, it is essential that these structures be equipped with 1,5 cornices, bases and pilasters. In those ins-tances,where store fixtures are arranged in separate stacks and placed side by side, it is common practice to limit the cornices and bases to the widths of the individual stacks 9 and to employ pilasters to cover the spaces between the stacks, and to equip such pilasters with capitals arranged to be interposed between the adjacent ends of adjoining stacks. Such an arrangement presents no serious 5 problem with respect to the securing of the pilasters in proper position, but where separate stacks are provided with a continuous cornice, or any other structure which may be utilized is equipped with such a continuous cornice, a troublesome problem is presented when it is desired to employ removable pilasters in association with the continuous cornice structure. With this problem in view, one of theobjects of the invention is to provide simple and efiective means for removably supporting, a pilaster in its proper relation with a continuous cornice structure. further object is to provide a pilaster with a detachable plinth arranged to normally cover I the pilaster support, and means for retaining said pilaster and plinth in operative position withrespect to a cornice.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

V In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a pilaster constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective View illustrating a pilaster placed in position with stances, the pilaster must be provided with a respect to the cornice and with the plinth re moved. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the removed plinth. Figure 3 isa perspective view, parts being broken away, looking from the back of the pilaster. Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the pilaster. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the anchoring devices for the pilaster.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates an end frame which may be of any preferred or desired construction, but for purposes of illustration is similar in construction to the end frame F disclosed in a pending application filed July 25, 1927, Serial Number 208,278. The pornice 11, which may be of 65 any desired design is supported above the end frame. 10 in any manner which is well understood in the art, it being considered unnecessary for present purposes to describe the same in further detail. The cornice, however, instead of being formed of a plurality of lengths corresponding to the individual widths of separate stacks is made of one continuous piece so as to bridge the space where the frame 10 is located. 75

. The pilaster 12, which is designed to cover the edge of frame 10, may be constructed of "any preferred contour, and is provided at its lower end with alongitudinal slot 13, which is shown as leading upwardly from the lower 0 edge thereof. On the side face of the frame 10 are placed one or more studs, which may be constructed in any suitable manner, but for purposes of illustration said studs are shown as consisting of screws 17. Secured to the rear face of the pilaster are keeper members, consisting of a supporting plate 18, provided with a hook member 19, disposed at right angles thereto.

In structures where sectional cornices are employed, the pilast'er and the supporting structurearenormally provided with complemental studs and keepers for retaining the pilaster in position, said studs and keepers beingbrought into engagement by first raising the pilaster so that the keepers are above the studs, and then imparting a downward movement of the pilaster, so that its lower end will rest upon the floor. In such inter which is arrested when the top of the.

pilaster abuts against the cornice. In order to retain the pilaster with its upper end abutted against the cornice, a supporting device 21 is secured to the frame 10, so as to engage the lower end of the pilaster and support it in a manner to prevent it from falling. In other words, the weight of the pilaster 1s sustained by the stud 21, and the pilaster is retained in position over the frame 10 by means of the engagement of the hooks 19 with the studs 17. The stud 21 may be of any desired structure, a screw h ving been selected for purposes of illustration.

Obviously the pilaster is somewhat shorter than the distance between the cornice and the fioor upon which the support member or end frame 10 rests. In order to cover the stud 21 the slot 13, and the space between the lower end of the pilaster and the floor, said pilaster is provided with a removable plinth 22. Said plinth is equipped with an anchoring device consisting of a securing plate 23, provided with a hook portion 2% extending rearwardly therefrom and at right angles thereto. Extending transversely across the slot 13, and secured to the back of the pilaster 10 is a keeper plate 25, provided with a notch 26 in register with the said slot.

In practice, in order to place the pilaster in position, its rear face is first placed in engagement with the outer edge of the frame 10, and then given an upward movement, so as to engage the hooks 19 with the studs 17.

This engagement is completed when the upper end 20 of the pilaster contacts with the lower edge of the cornice. The pilaster is then supported and held from dropping by placing the stud 21 in position so that the lower end of the pilaster will. rest upon said stud. The plinth 22 is then placed '3. position by inserting the hook 22 through the slot 13 until the notch in the hook 24; is in alignment with the notch. 26 of the plate 25. The plinth is then moved downwardly until the said hook engages said plate, and when so engaged the lower end of the plinth will rest upon the floor, being securely held in position by means of the hook 2 1 and plate 25. To disassemble the parts, the plinth is first disengaged by an upward and then an outward movement, and thereafter the stud 21 is re moved so that the pilaster may be disengaged supporting it from below so as to hold it in its upwardly adjusted position. In this mannor, the pilaster is removably secured in place, a capital for it is not required, and the architectural motif is preserved. By providing the removable plinth, the unsightly pilaster securing devices are hidden from view by a cover piece, which also fits in with the architectural motif and which may be readily secured in position or removed at will.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a support member, and a cornice associated therewith, of a pilaster the length of which is less than the distance between the cornice and the floor, said support and said pilaster having complemental retaining means so positioned that they may be engaged and disengaged by longitudinal movement of the pilaster, said pilaster being also provided with a longitudinal slot, supporting means for the pilaster carried by said support member and engaged by the lower end of the pilaster, so that the pilaster is supported from below with its upper end held in abutted contact with said cornice, a cross plate secured to said pilaster and extending transversely across said lot, and a removable plinth provided with a hook member complemental to said cross plate.

2. The combination with a support member, a cornice associated therewith, and a plurality of anchoring studs carried by said support member, of a pilaster provided with a. plurality of hooks complemental to said studs, said pilaster being shorter than the distance between the cornice and the floor, said hooks being so positioned that they may be engaged and disengaged from said studs by longitudinal movement of said pilaster, said pilaster also having a slot therein, a supporting stud carried by said support member and positioned to engage the lower end of said pilaster so as to support the pilaster from below with its upper end engaged with the cornice, a cross plate secured to the back of the pilaster and extending transversely across said slot, and a removable plinth having a hook complemental to said cross plate.

3. The combination with a support member and a cornice associated therewith, of a pilaster rcmovably engaging said support member and shorter than the distance between the cornice and the lower edge of the support member, so that a space is provided below the pilaster while it is engaged with the cornice, said pilaster being provided with a longitudinal slot, support means for the pilaster carried by said support member and located in the space below the pilaster, so that the pilaster is supported from below with its upper end in abutted contact with the cornice, a cross plate secured to said pilaster and extended transversely across said slot, and a removable plinth provided with a hook member complemental to said cross plate, said plinth being adapted to cover the 5 space below the pilaster.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM T. HORMES. 

